Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

G rabon continued to hold Vera's hand, enjoying the feel of her small fingers clasped in his, until the foliage began to thicken. Then he reluctantly dropped it in order to clear a path for her. The jungle surrounded them, a riot of colors and unfamiliar scents. Strange calls echoed through the air, punctuated by the rustle of unseen creatures, and he kept alert for any sign of danger.

He glanced back at her, her red hair a vibrant contrast to the greenery. Her eyes were wide with wonder, darting from one exotic plant to another and an unwilling smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Her curiosity was infectious, and he found himself slowing to enjoy the walk through the jungle, so very different from soaring above it.

She stumbled over a gnarled root and his arm quickly shot out, steadying her. She flashed him a grateful smile, her hand lingering on his arm. Her closeness sent a jolt through him, igniting memories of their kisses. The Dhalgroll did not kiss - their anatomy was not suited to the gesture - but he'd seen it performed often enough. When she'd looked up at him the previous night, it had seemed only natural to drop his head and kiss her.

As soon as their lips touched he was lost. He'd never experienced such an intoxicating intimacy. The feel of her soft mouth beneath his, the way she opened for him so easily as her sweetness flooded his mouth, the way her body molded to his as she pressed against him …

He shifted uneasily as his cock reacted to the memory, pushing painfully against his leathers.

A high-pitched screech pierced the air and she jumped, instinctively moving closer to him. His chest swelled with pride before he could stop himself. She looked to him for protection, trusting him to keep her safe. It awakened something primal in him, a fierce desire to shield her from harm.

As they moved on, he battled the urge to pull her close, to claim her lips once more. He knew he shouldn't have kissed her in the first place, but now that he had, the temptation to repeat it was almost unbearable. Her scent, her warmth, her very presence called to him in a way he'd never experienced before.

Because she's my mate.

No. He immediately rejected the idea. The gods couldn't be cruel enough to choose a fragile, dangerous little human as his mate.

He was so distracted by the thought that he almost missed the sound of voices. He tensed, placing a protective hand on her shoulder and pulling her closer as they crouched behind a large, leafy plant. Through the dense foliage, he spotted two Farlain guards, their armor glinting in the dappled sunlight.

"I told you this wasn't the way to the trading port," one guard grumbled, swatting at a buzzing insect.

"Well, if you'd just listened to me in the first place," the other retorted, "we wouldn't be in this mess."

His eyes narrowed as the guards continued to bicker, their voices rising in frustration.

"Lord Dekell's death has everyone on edge," the first guard said, lowering his voice. "And now with the rumors that there was an alien female with him …"

"An alien female." The other guard snorted. "Where the hell would he find one of those in this godforsaken place? There's no female worth fucking on the entire island."

The first guard dropped his voice even more.

"There is if you're a godsdammed noble. I've heard that those in King Ulmat's favor are often gifted with females from a new race - soft, fuckable females."

Vera had frozen next to him. He glanced down, seeing the fear etched across her face. Her eyes were wide, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps. The urge to protect her surged through him again, his muscles tensing.

The guards' words confirmed his suspicions that there was more involved in her abduction than a random incident. His first instinct was to confront the guards, to demand that they tell him everything they knew. His hand twitched toward his weapon, the warrior in him itching for a fight, but as he looked at Vera again, he knew he couldn't risk her safety. She was too important - to the Elvar, to their cause - and to him.

With a silent gesture, he motioned for her to move back. Despite her attempt to move quietly, a branch cracked under her foot and the guards whirled, instantly alert.

"Did you hear something?" the taller guard asked, pulling a blaster from his belt.

"I heard a damned twig crack. Probably just an animal."

"We'd better check."

The guards fanned out, their eyes scanning the greenery as they advanced on the bush where he and Vera were hiding. The branches parted and a blaster pointed straight at him.

His instincts took over. He lunged forward, grabbing the blaster and using it to yank the guard towards him. His fist connected with the guard's jaw, the impact reverberating through his arm. The guard stumbled back, and he pressed his advantage.

He ducked under a wild swing, then drove his elbow into the guard's solar plexus. The man doubled over, gasping for air. He followed up with a swift knee to the face, and the guard crumpled to the ground.

A scream pierced the air. He whirled around, his heart pounding. The second guard had Vera, his arm locked around her throat. The male started to speak but rage exploded within Grabon, a primal roar tearing from his throat.

He charged forward, his wings unfurling as he moved. The guard's eyes widened in fear, but he tightened his grip on Vera. Grabon feinted left, then darted right. The guard's momentary hesitation was all he needed. His hand shot out, grabbing the guard's wrist. He twisted sharply, feeling bones grind beneath his grip. The guard yelped in pain, his hold on Vera loosening, and he immediately yanked the male away from her, then delivered a devastating blow to his temple.

As the second guard fell to the ground, he turned back to her, his breath coming in short pants.

"Are you hurt?"

"N-no."

Her voice was shaky but he could see no signs of injury. Still, he couldn't resist touching her, stroking her cheek. She leaned into his touch, a small sigh escaping her lips. His hands itched to touch her, to make sure she was unharmed, but he needed to make sure the guards were no longer a threat first.

His pulse still thundered in his ears as he forced himself to leave her and check the fallen guards. The adrenaline coursing through his veins slowly ebbed, replaced by a gnawing unease that had nothing to do with the unconscious Farlain at his feet.

He knelt beside the first guard, checking for a pulse. It was there, steady and strong. He exhaled, relief mingling with a strange disappointment. Part of him, a primal, savage part he'd long kept buried, wanted to end the threat permanently.

As he moved to the second guard, his gaze flicked back to Vera. She stood a few paces away, her chest heaving, eyes wide with residual fear and something else - admiration? The sight of her, safe but shaken, sent a fresh wave of emotion crashing over him.

Fear. It was fear that had driven him to act with such ferocity. Not the calculated caution of a seasoned warrior, but raw, visceral terror at the thought of Vera coming to harm. The realization hit him like a physical blow, leaving him momentarily breathless.

His hands threatened to tremble as he checked the second guard's vitals. He clenched his fists, willing the tremors to subside. He was a battle-hardened medic and warrior. He didn't lose control. He didn't let emotions cloud his judgment.

And yet, he had. For her.

The depth of his reaction terrified him. How had this human female, in such a short time, burrowed so deeply under his skin? He'd thought he wanted a mate, but he hadn't considered the devastating impact of losing one.

His mind was a battlefield of conflicting desires. Every instinct screamed at him to pull her close, to shield her from any future harm. But another voice, equally insistent, urged him to push her away before it was too late. Before losing her would shatter him completely.

He was still kneeling next to the second guard - the dead second guard - when a rustle in the dense foliage caught his attention. Before he could fully process the threat, a third guard burst from the undergrowth, weapon trained on him.

"Move away from him," the guard snarled. "If you do anything foolish, I'll kill you."

He weighed his options, supremely conscious of Vera still standing at the edge of the clearing. The guard was tense, his finger hovering over the trigger, and he couldn't put her at risk. As he raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, a blur of motion caught his peripheral vision. Vera, her face set with determination, swung a fallen branch with all her might. The makeshift weapon connected with a satisfying thud, throwing the guard off balance.

He seized the opportunity, grabbing a knife from the fallen guard's belt and hurling it at the newcomer.

The blade sunk deep into the guard's neck. Blood spurted as he clawed at it, his mouth gaping like a fish out of water. Then he crumpled to the ground, red pooling beneath him.

His chest heaved as he caught his breath, adrenaline still coursing through his veins. He turned to Vera, her eyes wide as she stared at him.

"You … you killed him," she whispered, staring at the body.

"Yes."

"But why?"

"Why?" He stared at her, bewildered. "What else would I have done?"

She shrugged, still clutching the branch.

"I don't know. Captured him, or … or …"

"He was going to shoot me." He struggled to contain his temper as he kicked the guard's blaster further away from the body.

"But I saved you."

She lowered her eyes as she spoke, but she couldn't hide the defiant tilt of her chin. His anger disappeared, replaced by disbelief. She was standing in the middle of the jungle, arguing with him over killing a male who had been intent on harming them both. She wasn't afraid or disgusted by the violence, and it appeared that she wasn't even sorry for the guard's death. His fierce, dangerous little human.

His heart raced, adrenaline still coursing through his veins. The sight of Vera, fierce and determined, wielding that branch, had awakened something primitive within him. She'd fought for him, just as he'd fought for her. In that moment, all his carefully constructed walls crumbled.

He was at her side in two quick strides, yanking her into his arms. She looked up at him, her eyes wide and dark and completely unafraid, her intoxicating scent filling his head. His control snapped, kissing her with a passion that bordered on desperation. The fight, the danger, the rush of adrenaline – it all funneled into this one, primal need.

His tongue invaded her mouth and she matched his fervor, her small tongue dancing with his, teasing him and driving his need even higher. His hands slid down her back and squeezed her small, sweet ass, pulling her up his body and against his aching shaft. She whimpered and ground her hips against him, her urgency fueling his. He ran a hand down the curve of her hip and she shuddered.

He wanted more - needed more - but some distant voice of caution penetrated his lust-fogged brain.

"We can't do this," he growled, reluctantly breaking the kiss.

"Yes, we can," she panted, pressing her small, tempting body against his.

His resolve was weakening, the need for her growing stronger, but he refused to give in to it.

"This isn't right," he insisted, fighting the urge to tear off her clothes.

"It feels right," she murmured, nipping at his neck.

The slight sting from her small, blunt teeth sent another wave of lust streaking through his body but he gritted his teeth and placed her gently back on the ground.

"I need to clear up this mess."

Her dazed expression vanished, replaced by her usual intelligence as she looked around and nodded.

"What do we do with the bodies?"

"Dispose of them," he said grimly. "With any luck no one will think to look for them here. And since they were on their way to the port, they may not be missed for a while."

"All right. What do you want me to do?"

He caught a faint sound from the first guard to go down and hastily pointed her at the second guard.

"Retrieve his weapons."

As she did, he bent back over the first guard and quietly snapped his neck. He couldn't afford to leave the male alive now. He quickly stripped the guard's weapons, then carried the body deeper into the jungle, repeating the process with the other two bodies before hurrying back to her.

One of the guards had been carrying a satchel and she'd filled it with the weapons they'd collected. She looked up and smiled as he returned.

"How much farther?" she asked cheerfully, and he gave her a confused look.

"Farther?"

"To the place you were taking me. Where the trees form a strange pattern."

"You still want to go there?"

He shook his head in amazement, but then he glanced around. There was no trace of the violence that had occurred and he realized she'd even kicked leaves over the blood that had pooled beneath the third guard.

"Of course," she said impatiently. "That's what we were doing."

He couldn't help laughing. His fierce little human. He loved the way she wasn't rattled by what happened, the way she focused on what was important to her.

Wait. Love?

A familiar anxiety settled over him and he cursed silently. This wasn't the time to be thinking about love or mating. But he had a feeling that it was far too late to stop himself.